Tag: Niko

Just ran into some fellow syrians at the Austin airport in Texas. They work for BEATS – RHYMES – RELIEF – a nonprofit organization that fundraises and raises awareness about the ongoing tumult in Syria. Almost a million refugees have been forced to relocate, and thousands of lives have been lost. The cause of the conflict is up to debate still – to the misfortune of many Syrians, especially the innocent victims. The ideological, religious, and ethnic divide in Syria has become more clear than ever – but there is no telling if these tensions preceded the crisis – or if they merely formed out of it. Fundamentalism is rampant in today’s world, from the pews of Utah – where evangelism and mormonism are the norm – to the Wahhabi districts of Saudi Arabia. This type of fundamentalism is pouring into Syria; whether it is in resistance to the Syrian government or merely a foreign plot. This is where the tale is at this moment – who is to blame? Well, I must say, it is extremely awkward to run into Syrians nowadays because I can feel the religious undertones gripping the consciences of every one of them even in the lightest of conversations. It is a really sad epidemic – this religious dogmatic fear-mongering-inspired prejudice. This phenomenon grips the whole world though – and has since the dawn of time – evident in conservative traditions and laws. The West struggles to break free from Judaic-Christian dogmatism in search for a lighter, more loving, peaceful (liberal) version; The East struggles to break free from an equally dogmatic militant-buddhist-ascetic and authoritatively indoctrinated atheism (from China to Malaysia to Myanmar); and in the Middle East; it is a struggle against the dogmas of Wahhabism, salafism, zionism, christian zealotry, self-righteous authoritarian theocratic Islamism (versus moderate Islam). Everywhere in the world, this struggle ensues; in all levels and scales; from minor conversations over coffee between friends and neighbors to the battlefields in Kashmir; philosophy collides. When all groups collide and there is no longer room for debate – when minds are freed and hate eradicated – it’ll give us purpose to live eternally basking in the struggle to maintain philosophical truth. The struggle is equally economic as much as it is social and religious – it is all in one. I guess that makes it beautiful – despite all the ugliness we see. But then again – there is a little beauty in ugliness – is there not?

My religion and spiritual question has been the cause of my life. The source is a certain thing, I cannot open here but it’s okay. I wonder, because I question, and yet, in contradiction, I believe, so vehemently in my path, for many reasons, pure and impure. But I am me, and my Lord is One, and my freedom is nigh, and my question will die, soon, before long, I’ll see with my eye.